Australia Post expecting number of employees with disability to grow

The percentage of employees with a disability at Australia Post is projected to surpass six per cent in fiscal year 2024, according to its chief executive.

Paul Graham, group chief executive and managing director, said they are working on further inclusive practices to provide accessibility to a growing group of employees.

"With 5.7% of our team members with a disability, tracking to be over six per cent in FY24, we are focused on building inclusive practices to provide accessibility for everyone in our communities," Graham said when he joined in the Australian Disability Network's first ever CEO Insights session at IMPACT 2024.

Australia Post's inclusivity measures

Among its measures to promote accessibility is the introduction of its Workplace Adjustment Guidelines and Passport in 2022.

The passport makes it easier for employees with a disability to request a workplace adjustment and document the arrangement in their own words.

This ensures that all team members have access to a "simple, clear, and dignified process for accessing adjustments to support them in their career," according to the Australia Post Access and Inclusion Plan.

The organisation also has an Accessibility Matters Employee Reference Group, with over 100 members, that provides insights and feedback on products, services, and workplace experiences of people with disability and carers.

Also present in the organisation are other inclusive practices, such as "listen and learn sessions" throughout the year to highlight workplace inclusivity, according to Australia Post. Employees with lived experience also mentor leaders and decision makers to improve their understanding of disability in the workplace.

Message to employers

Graham said they are proud of the higher engagement and tenure of team members with a disability at Australia Post and encouraged other employers to foster a culture of access and inclusion in their workplaces.

The chief executive advised other employers to build their accessibility approach using the question: "How can we do it, not why we can't."

Last year, the Business Council of Australia released a report on the inclusion efforts of organisations across the country.

The report found that 65% have implemented initiatives to increase the employment of people with disability, such as building inclusive culture, introducing flexible work arrangements, developing implementing a workplace adjustment process, among others.